At 740 square feet, this two-bedroom ADU by Villa Homes creates a complete second home in the backyard without overwhelming the property.
Built in Novato, California, this small home was designed primarily as a comfortable place for visiting family and friends to stay. With two private bedrooms, a full kitchen, spacious living area, bathroom, laundry, and plenty of storage, guests can maintain their own routine while still being only steps away from the main house.
That same layout also makes this ADU flexible enough for multigenerational living, long-term guests, or even future downsizing.
Main Features 🏡
-
📐 740-sqft
-
🛏️ Two private bedrooms
-
🛋️ Open living + dining area
-
🍳 Full kitchen with central island
-
🚿 One full bathroom
-
🧺 In-unit laundry
-
👕 Generous closet storage
-
❄️ Central heating + air conditioning
-
🪟 Energy-efficient dual-pane windows
- 🏡 Detached backyard ADU
- 💵 Estimated completed cost: $255,000
Open Living + Dining Area 🛋️
The main living area uses an open layout that keeps the lounge, dining space, and kitchen visually connected.
At 740 square feet, there’s enough room for a proper sofa setup and dining furniture without forcing every part of the home to serve multiple purposes.
Large windows and tall interior walls help the space feel bright and residential rather than overly compact.
Full Kitchen + Central Island 🍳
The kitchen is one of the strongest parts of the layout.
There’s plenty of cabinetry and counter space along with a central island that creates additional room for meal prep, casual dining, or gathering with family and friends.
Villa’s current comparable Select 750a includes stainless-steel electric appliances, a full-size range, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave/range hood, soft-close shaker-style cabinetry, solid-surface countertops, and a stainless-steel farmhouse sink.
For guests staying more than a night or two, having a complete kitchen makes the ADU feel much more like an independent home.
Two Private Bedrooms + Storage 🛏️
The two-bedroom floor plan gives this ADU much more flexibility than a studio or one-bedroom layout.
Both bedrooms are separated from the main living area, creating true privacy for guests or family members.
There’s also generous closet storage throughout, which becomes especially important for longer stays or full-time use.
For a couple, the second bedroom could easily become a home office, hobby room, or flexible guest space.
Full Bathroom + Laundry 🚿
The bathroom includes a full tub/shower combination, vanity, toilet, and dedicated ventilation.
The home also includes in-unit laundry, allowing guests or full-time residents to handle everyday chores without relying on the main house.
That may seem like a small detail, but it helps make the ADU feel completely self-contained.
Built for Hosting + Future Flexibility 🏡
The homeowner chose this ADU largely to make hosting easier.
Instead of having friends or family stay in the main house—or at a hotel nearby—the backyard home gives visitors their own kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, and living space while still keeping everyone close together.
Over time, that same flexibility could support aging parents, adult children, long-term tenants, or even become the homeowner’s own downsized residence.
Final Thoughts
The Novato ADU shows how a 740-square-foot backyard home can function as much more than an occasional guest house.
With two bedrooms, a full kitchen, in-unit laundry, generous storage, and a comfortable open living area, it offers nearly everything needed for independent full-time living.
For families who host often—or who simply want more flexibility built into their property—this kind of ADU creates a legitimate second home without requiring a separate piece of land.
Would you use the second bedroom for guests, a home office, or long-term family housing?
Pricing: Starting at $255,000 (completed project pricing)
📍 Builder: Villa | California
📐 Built Project Size: 740-sqft
🛏️ Layout: 2 Bedrooms | 1 Bathroom
🏡 Type: Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit
✨ Highlight: Two-bedroom layout + central kitchen island
Contact Villa Homes today to request a FREE consultation!
▶️ Watch a video walkthrough:
Want to explore model photos, floor plans, or customization options? Contact Villa Homes!
Follow @dreambiglivetiny for more tiny house tours, cozy cottage inspiration, and off-grid escapes around the U.S. & the rest of the world 🏡🌎
Images courtesy of ©Villa Homes.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
+Hi There!
My name is Alan—founder at Dream Big Live Tiny Co! A few years ago, I quit my consulting job to pursue a life full of adventure. After traveling around the world for a year, I sold most of my stuff and moved into an 160-sqft tiny house. Now I spend most of my time showcasing incredible people living with less in pursuit of more freedom, as well as incredible tiny houses around the world!